Qaanaaq in northern Greenland is the northernmost civilian settlement in the world (the northernmost settlement of any description is the Canadian military's Alert Base). Getting here will be a challenge, as permits may be required for use of the nearby Thule Airbase, under US control.

Contents

Understand

The alternative name for this settlement is Thule, a name preserved in the nearby airbase. The word comes from the Roman concept of "Ultima Thule", the far North land.

Get in

Permission

A permission to enter or travel through Thule Air Base can at the moment (Apr. 2007) be obtained by sending an application to foreign affairs department in Denmark. Details can be found (only in Danish) at the national ombudsman's homepage [1].

If you live outside Greenland or do not have a Danish citizenship you must send the following information:

Name

Birthday and -place (Danish citizens: CPR-number)

Permanent address

Purpose of the journey

Place of living during the stay

Name of the travel agency through which the ticket will be/ has been ordered.

Application can be send or faxed to:

Udenrigsministeriet

Asiatisk Plads 2

1448 København K

Denmark

Telefax: +45 33 92 01 70

If you live in Greenland or have a Danish citizenship you can also apply through the national ombudsman in Greenland. Check the website [2]for details.